UN urges countries to stop conflicts during 2018 Winter Olympics
South Korea’s 2010 Olympic gold medalist figure skater Yuna Kim (right) speaks during a press conference on Monday, November 13, 2017, at the United Nations Headquarters. The UN General Assembly adopted a South Korea-sponsored resolution that 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics build a peaceful and better world through sport and Olympic ideal. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved on Monday a resolution by acclamation urging all countries to stop hostilities and observe a truce during the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea — a message especially aimed at North Korea.
The resolution, which was adopted at the bang of the gavel by Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak to loud applause, urges UN member states to observe the truce from seven days before the games begin on February 9, 2018 until seven days after the Paralympic Winter Games end on March 18, 2018.
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, told the 193-member world body that with the resolution, the UNGA is “creating the conditions for all athletes to compete in peace.”
“Only the UN member states can guarantee the athletes the safe passage to the Olympic Games,” he said. “They make it possible for all the Olympic athletes to realize their dream of a lifetime.”
Lee Hee Beom, president of the South Korean organizing committee, said the resolution signifies the UNGA’s “strong wish that Pyeongchang will provide the window of opportunity to foster an environment conducive to building and sustaining peace on the Korean peninsula, and in northeast Asia.”
He recalled the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where delegations from both Koreas walked into the opening ceremony “marching together, hand in hand under the same flag.” It simply said “Korea.”
“We hope our joint action today will lead to a chain reaction for the promotion of peace within the region and beyond,” Lee noted. “Together we are more powerful than any of us working alone.”
South Korean Olympic gold medalist Yuna Kim, who is a goodwill ambassador for the Winter Games, expressed hope that the competition “will spread the message of peace through one of the few languages that has the power to unite people around the world — the graceful and universal language of sport.”
“Indeed, Pyeongchang represents perhaps the most sincere efforts to cross frozen borders between South and North Korea and foster a peaceful environment,” she said.
The resolution recalls the ancient Greek tradition of “ekecheiria,” which called for a cessation of hostilities to encourage a peaceful environment, ensure safe passage and participation of athletes in the ancient Olympics.
The UNGA revived the tradition in 1993 and has adopted resolutions before all Olympics since then, but member states involved in conflicts have often ignored the call for a truce.
The Pyeongchang games “will give us hope in our troubled times for a better future,” Bach said. “The Olympic Games demonstrate that our values of a shared humanity are stronger than all the forces that want to divide us.” /kga
